 What is a Lock? How does it work? I will try to illuminate the territory for you. A lock is an elevator for ship. It's a basin with gates at each end, within which the water level may be varied to raise or lower boats. It's used in canals to lift ships. It's also used to lift ships in to docks were there are tide water outside. Then they can have the same level in the dock all the time even if ship arrives at low water. For example, passing through Panama between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. We need to lift the ship by 26 meters and then we have to come down by 26 meters again when we reach the other end of the canal. I have never liked passing Canals etc. First time it is kind of exciting as it is the first time and there are things to look at. And there is the Crocodiles in the Panama Canal that adds a wee bit of excitements. Anyway, let’s have a look at the looks in Panama Canal.
 On the picture below we can see a ship “above” us in the first set of locks entering the Panama Canal from the Atlantic Ocean. The locks in the Panama Canal is the only place in the world I know off where they pull us through the locks with a train. The train is also working as a mooring pollard so no need to have any mooring lines to the shore. And they “pull” us through the locks.  Coming in to the first set of locks from the Atlantic side
Picture taken in the Panama Canal January 2007 on board m/t Barcarolle
 Coming in to the first set of locks from the Atlantic side
Picture taken in the Panama Canal January 2007 on board m/t Barcarolle
 Coming in to the first set of locks from the Atlantic side
Picture taken in the Panama Canal January 2007 on board m/t Barcarolle
 Coming in to the first set of locks from the Atlantic side
Picture taken in the Panama Canal January 2007 on board m/t Barcarolle
 Working our way up the first set of locks on the Atlantic side
Picture taken in the Panama Canal January 2007 on board m/t Barcarolle
On the picture below we can see that they have opened the gates to the next lock. The trains are pulling us in to the lock. Then they close the gate and fill up the lock with water and we rise with the water and we can get out on the Panama Canal  Moving in to the next lock
Picture taken in the Panama Canal January 2007 on board m/t Barcarolle
  This train pulling us in to the next lock with the head lines
 This train is not pulling, just coming with the forward spring lines
 This train is coming after us with the stern lines
On the picture below we can see a ship leaving the dock in front of us. She is now down to the canal level. We are behind her and we will go down in the same lock. On the right hand side we can see a ship on the way up in the Panama Canal lock system  In the lock and the ship in the lock ahead of us is leaving the lock
Picture taken in the Panama Canal February 2007 on board m/t Barcarolle
On the picture below we can see a ship leaving the dock in front of us. She is now down to the canal level. They close the gate and fill the lock. We are in the lock above and that means we have to go down 2 times to get to the Panama Canal level. 1) They fill the lock below us. 2) They empty our lock and when we are at the same level they open the gates. 3) We enter the last lock and they close the gates 4) They pump out the water and open the gates 5) We are now at the Panama Canal level and we can go out on the Canal  The ship ahead of us are down at the canal level and leaving the last lock
Picture taken in the Panama Canal February 2007 on board m/t Barcarolle  The ship ahead of us are out of the lock. They close the gate and fill the lock
On the picture below we can see the level differences between the Panama Canal and the Pacific Ocean. It is quite a difference in height and it would have been impossible to cross Panama without the locks.  Leaving the last dock behind on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal
Picture taken in the Panama Canal February 2007 on board m/t Barcarolle  Leaving the last dock behind on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal
Picture taken in the Panama Canal February 2007 on board m/t Barcarolle As I mentioned, the locks in the Panama Canal is the only locks I know of with trains pulling the ships through the lock. Otherwise we have to “drive” in and out of the locks by our self. On the pictures below we can see when we're entering the Eastham lock to leave the Manchester Canal when we leave the refinery in Stanlow. And we can see that there isn't much space for us in the lock  Approaching the Eastham lock on the Manchester Canal
Picture taken on board m/t Ek-River February 2010  Entering the Eastham lock on the Manchester Canal
Picture taken on board m/t Ek-River February 2010  Tug boat assisting
Picture taken on board m/t Ek-River February 2010 On the picture below we can see that they are open the lock gate in Antwerp and we can get out on River Schelde  One of the locks in Antwerp
Picture taken on board m/t Bro Jupiter October 2006 Signing off m/t Tärnvåg in August 2009 in Brofjorden. We drove the car to Go:teborg and we stopped in Trollhättan to drop one of the guys. We took the opportunity to have a look at the locks in  Trollhättan. And of course, we had ice cream.
If you come from the West you have to pass the locks in Trollhättan to be able to reach lake Vänern. The Trollhätte Canal connects the Göta älv with Lake Vänern. Ships classified as Vänermax are of the maximum dimensions that will fit through the canal. The maximum dimensions for a boat to pass the canal are: Length: 88 m Width: 13.20 m Mast height: 27 m Depth: 5.40 m This allows ships of around 4000 tonnes in total. The allowed height allows ocean going ships. Around 3.5 million tonnes of goods is freighted annually on Trollhätte Canal. Trollhätte Canal has six locks. They are from north to south: Brinkebergskulle Trollhättan övre Trollhättan nedre, 3 locks
 One of the lock gates in Trollhättan
 Old lock in Trollhättan - Built 1844
   Juno enter the lock in Trollhättan
 Juno rise with the water in the lock
 And yes, the ice cream
The lock in Antwerp 20th of January 2004
Read also about the Kiel Canal and the locks by clicking HERE      
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